UHV president resigns to take new job within UH system

By From News Release
Aug. 6, 2010 at 3:06 a.m.

timeline to expansionHudson served as provost and founding dean of the College of International and Continuing Education at the University of Southern Mississippi and as an analyst for the U.S. Department of State. He earned his doctorate in geography from Clark University in Worcester, Mass.Below is a timeline of events leading to the UHV expansion:

September 2004 - Hudson becomes seventh UHV president and begins researching the possibility of UHV becoming a four-year university.

January 2007 - UHV sets the goal of expanding to a four-year university as a strategic initiative during the annual president's cabinet retreat.

April 2008 - The UHV expansion steering committee chaired by chief of staff Margaret Rice presents its report to Hudson.

August 2008 - The chairmen of the University of Houston System Board of Regents and The Victoria College Board of Trustees form the Commission on Expanding Access to Higher Education. The commission, formed to study the future of higher education in Victoria, is made up of representatives from the UH System, UHV, VC, and local community and education leaders.

May 18 - Crossroads Commission on Education presents the UH Board of Regents with recommendations to develop UHV into a destination university on a 100-acre site north of Loop 463 and seek $71.5 million in state funding to expand the campus.

July 30 - UH Board of Regents announces support for a legislative initiative to secure $61.5 million in state tuition revenue bonds for new academic buildings on the current UHV campus and about $7 million in additional funding.

The University of Houston - Victoria's president resigned his position four weeks before the school years brings on its first freshmen class.

"He's left us in a good place to really grow our university to make contributions in higher education," said UHV Provost Suzanne LaBrecque.

Hudson accepted a position with the University of Houston System as an assistant to the chancellor for international programs and initiatives.

Hudson said in an e-mail Friday the move was a "natural progression of my career." Hudson has an extensive background in international education and has established more than 40 study-abroad programs world-wide.

He will be working with university leaders throughout the UH system to establish international study programs.

He also cited this time of year is when many school administrators and faculty change positions.

Hudson's contract as president with the school ends Aug. 31. LaBrecque will assume presidential duties until an interim president is named, which is expected to happen next week.

The University of Houston system Board of Regents will do a national search to find Hudson's replacement.

New freshmen and sophomores are scheduled to begin classes Sept. 7, but LaBrecque believes the move came at a good time.

"We know what to do," LaBrecque said. "We have his leadership, mission and vision and we're going to carry forward."

The move also follows the UH Board of Regents recent announced support for a legislative initiative to secure $61.5 million from the state to construct new buildings on the present campus and about $7 million for special funding.

Hudson said he will still support the push for UHV to continue to expand.

"Of course I and the board, the chancellor, the community, our legislative leaders and numerous other constituents support the continuing development of a destination university in Victoria," he said.

Hudson, who has three school-age children, will continue to live in Victoria and commute out of town for work when needed.

Hudson described the new position as "a demanding and rewarding responsibility I am passionate about."